First attested in the 18th century, from Frenchogre, from LatinOrcus (“god of the underworld"), from Ancient Greek ÎŒÏÎºÎ¿Ï‚ (Horkos), the personified demon of oaths (á½…ÏÎºÎ¿Ï‚ (horkos, “oath")) who inflicts punishment upon perjurers.